Home theaters aren't just about big screens and speakers, you also need the right light to make the experience jive. Here are a few tips from professional lighting designer, Tom Dearborn.

Being able to brighten and dim the lights is a great way to add drama and excitement to a home theater. But effective lighting also requires good lighting design. The style of the fixtures and the bulbs, as well as the positioning of the lights, all have a direct impact on the overall effect. A professional lighting designer can help you select the perfect fixtures and arrangement for your home theater. Here are a few pointers offered by Tom Dearborn of Tom Dearborn Lighting Design in Portland, OR, to ensure that the lighting in your theater looks and performs its best.

1. Introduce a lighting designer to the project early, and be sure he or she collaborates with the audio/video designer, the interior designer, the cabinetmaker and the architect on the project.

2. Leave a few lights on at very low levels during a movie. Soft recessed lighting overhead will ensure that you can see your bag of popcorn, while lighting around the perimeter will help you see the walls and floor so you can make your way in and out of the room.

3. Use a cove ceiling as a hiding spot for small light fixtures. The fixtures will still illuminate the space but without producing any spotting or shadowing on the walls or video screen.

4. Cover any windows with blackout shades.

5. Choose low-reflective fabrics and wall colors, such as black, dark blue and deep burgundy, that won’t cause the lights to glare.

6. Use miniature recessed lights mounted flush with the floor surface to accent columns, art and other aesthetic details.

7. Be patient when creating scenes for your home theater. It may take a few tries to get the settings perfect.

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Get the FREE Electronic House eNewsletter

Download Our FREE Smart Home Planning Guide

Featured Installers

Custom Electronics Professionals Get Your Work Featured on Electronic House!

Do you want to have your work featured as a Home of the Week on Electronic House? Electronic House listed integrators get FREE access to upload their home projects for our editors to review and potentially feature online! If you are not a listed integrator yet, get your FREE basic listing by subscribing or renewing your FREE (with industry qualification) subscription to CE Pro Magazine.

Footer

Electronic House

Free Downloadable Guides

Download our FREE Guides to help you better plan for integrating the products and technologies you see on Electronic House into your own home. View All Guides

Custom Electronics Professionals Get the Benefits of a FREE CE Pro Magazine Subscription

CE Pro Magazine is the leading trade publication for professionals in the custom electronics business. Qualified CE Pro’s get a FREE subscription which includes a FREE listing in the Electronic House installers directory so that you can be found by our audience of homeowners looking to integrate electronics into their homes. Qualified subscribers can also submit their work to be featured as an Electronic House Home of the Week! Subscribe Now!